An investigation by Global Witness tracked oil from Russia to refineries across the world and onward to American ports exposing the loophole in the US oil embargo. The findings show how in the first 9 months of 2023, refineries using Russian oil exported 30 million barrels of petroleum products to the US. Refineries in countries including India and Turkey are actively using the loophole.

Shipping data indicates that fossil fuel companies including Shell, BP, and Sunoco were amongst the importers bringing laundered Russian oil to American gas stations. Major commodity trading houses Trafigura, Vitol, and Gunvor also appear to have purchased cargoes which discharged in ports from New York to Louisiana and Houston.

Trafigura, Vitol, Gunvor and Shell provided commets to Global Witness. Sunoco declined to respond.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited bp to comment. Company’s response can be found below.